4 pros and cons to the Carolina Panthers drafting a quarterback in 2022
By Dean Jones
Carolina Panthers could miss out on a blue-chip LT
Although this year’s quarterback class comes with some serious question marks, the same cannot be said of another position of long-standing need for the Carolina Panthers. The left tackle prospects at the top end are first-class and there is a very real chance that the organization has the opportunity to land one depending on what transpires in the top five.
It would be a major shock if Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, and Charles Cross were all gone by the time Carolina came on the clock. All three represent Day 1 starters with Pro Bowl or better potential, which is something the Panthers have craved ever since Jordan Gross announced his retirement almost a decade ago.
Passing up one of these blindside protectors by reaching for a signal-caller that may or may not work out is a substantial gamble. If it fails, then the Panthers would still be seeking top performers at two positions rather than just one.
Sam Darnold might not be everyone’s solution. But the harsh reality is Carolina will find life extremely difficult getting another team to take him on unless they eat a large amount of his cap number and even that might not be enough.
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Keeping Darnold on the books, perhaps bringing in another veteran, and drafting an elite left tackle that can solidify the position is arguably the best way to go. Whether the Panthers turn to this eventuality is the big question no matter how much sense it might make in the long run.